Superoxide
dismutase is a naturally occurring enzyme that protects the body against
active oxygen free radicals by scavenging excess superoxide. Low or
undetectable levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase allow oxygen
radicals to form in anaerobic bacteria and to inactivate other bacterial
enzyme systems. The SOD enzyme itself
has a very unusual electrostatic field which
contributes to its properties.

As an
enzyme, SOD has particular value as an antioxidant that can help to protect
against cell destruction. It has the distinct ability to neutralize
superoxide, one of the most damaging free radical substances in nature. Like
so many other protective compounds which naturally occur in the body, it
decreases with age, making cells much more vulnerable to the oxidants which
cause aging and disease.
Research in the
areas of inflammatory, hepatic, allergic, tumorigenic, metabolic,
cardiovascular, vision, and neurological disorders indicate the supportive
function of SOD in the prevention and alleviations of such symptoms.SOD is also important in many other aspects of health and longevity.SOD has fantastic benefits!

SOD
plays an important role in the body’s antioxidant system, intervening in
the first transformation by dismuting the most reactive forms of oxygen (and
therefore the most dangerous for the cells)– the superoxide free radicals – into ions that are less
reactive.This transformation
is called dismutation, thus its name dismutase (an enzyme that stops
mutation).If these defense
mechanisms do not immediately eliminate the free radicals, the body’s
cells suffer from an “oxidative stress” that can lead to or promote
health problems.

Healthy SOD levels may be one of the keys to anti-aging and longevity
as it is able to protect against DNA strand breaks and, possibly, the
shortening of the DNA telomeres.SOD
plays a crucial role throughout our life cycle, protecting our bodies from
external and internal free radical damage, and at the same time boosting our
cells’ defense system and immunity.

SOD acts
as a frontline defense against free radical damage, reduces inflammation and
inflammatory damage in joints and tissues, protects the lungs in allergic
reactions, protects the mitochondria (the power house of our cells) from
damage, increases the effectiveness of pharmaceutical medicines and
therapies while lessening any side effects they may have, and protects our
immune system from environmental toxins.

SOD, GliSODin® is the
first orally effective, vegetarian form of superoxide dismutase (SOD); the
only one that has been shown to increase the body’s own circulating SOD levels by oral ingestion. Natural production of antioxidants catalase & GPx are also increased. A proprietary process integrates gliadin (a wheat protein) with SOD from melon extract to protect it from degradation. Usually SOD is rapidly destroyed by the digestive system. See
A Short History of SOD for more info about the
road to an effective oral SOD. Organic
technologies have finally provided an oral formulation for SOD that will
pass through the stomach and become available for use by the body.Recent research showed that this particular SOD was able to increase
the body’s SOD levels and increase the body’s response time in producing
SOD.In addition, exciting
new human clinical trials based on oxidative stress showed that this
particular SOD is able to protect the body against DNA damage, something
that even Vitamin E or N-acetylcysteine is not able to do.Furthermore, this particular SOD is very useful in helping the body
to modulate internal SOD levels, bringing the levels up when needed and
lowering the levels when too high.

In a
clinical trial, healthy volunteers subjected to accelerated
oxidative stress showed no DNA fragmentation after taking
GliSODin®, while the placebo group did. Animal & human studies suggest
GliSODin® supplementation should be helpful for all conditions of oxidative stress and excess free radicals or when the immune system is challenged; including neurological, pulmonary, cardiovascular, vision, & immune support, as well as for sports nutrition by reducing lactic acid build-up and promoting exercise recovery.
For more technical information on oxidative stress, see this treatise
on the process of oxygen use in the body.

Super GiSODin may be one of
the most important defense substances to become available; ithelps the body to manufacture SOD and also regulates
internal SOD levels.Since the
body produces potentially damaging oxygen free radicals and is subject to
environmental influences, it is inevitable that a certain level of oxidants
are present at all times.Thus,
one of the most important control mechanisms and key to anti-aging is our
body’s ability to maintain an oxidant/antioxidant balance.

Super GliSODin™ -
The First Orally Effective SOD

Novus Research
Inc., leaders in the Nutraceutical Industry, as of 2005 offer the only
orally Bio-Effective All Vegetable Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) previously
only featured in In-Sight
AOF in 2002.:

Only $39.98 plus S&H(MSRP: $45.99) or pay only $35.98 each
for 3 bottles (180 capsules)ON-LINE
ORDER PAGE

Suggested
Use: Take 1 to 2 capsules morning and evening with water.
To take advantage of all the protective and healing effects of Super
GliSODin®
it is recommended to take 4 capsules per day (1000 mg/day), preferably 2
in the morning and 2 at night.

Additional supplementation can be taken for any of the strains on the
body’s natural defense system: convalescence, intense exposure to the
sun or ultra-violet rays, stress or intense physical exercise (after a
sport competition or for people practicing sport occasionally).

For a long-term support of the immune
system, against the free radicals, Super
GliSODin® can be used on a
permanent basis, if desired. Long term support for joints, immune system
and mitochondrial systems, supporting energy levels. Anyone over age 35
can benefit. Store in a
cool dry place. Do not
store bottle in
refrigerator, in bathrooms and areas of elevated moisture.

Contraindications:A small subset of the population may be allergic to wheat protein.Anyone allergic to wheat protein should logically avoid all productswhich contain some form of wheat protein. Super
GliSODin® is not meant to be used by pregnant women or children under 12 years
of age.

Historically,
oral administration of SOD has been inefficient due to the fragility of
this enzyme, which is immediately destroyed by the gastric acidity.SOD commonly found on the market does not survive gastric activity,
giving the body little benefit, and is a waste of money.The makers know this - all commonly available SOD
products are ineffective and practically worthless. Moreover, concerns
linked to sanitary risks led to giving up the use of bovine SOD, which at
the time, was used by intramuscular injection that led to problems and side
effects.

Two
major discoveries resolved these problems:

•
Identification of a vegetable source
of SOD.The objective was
reached by selecting a variety of melon (Cucumus melo not genetically
modified) that is naturally rich in SOD.As an enzyme, SOD has particular value as an antioxidant that
can help to protect against cell destruction.It has the distinct ability to neutralize superoxide, one of the most
damaging free radical substances in nature.Like so many other protective compounds which naturally occur in the
body, it decreases with age, making cells much more vulnerable to the
oxidants which cause aging and disease.It occurs naturally in broccoli, brussel sprouts, wheat grass and in
the majority of green plants.

•Development ofa natural
compound capable of protecting the SOD from the gastric degradation.This was possible thanks to the conception of a special wheat
protein matrix that protects the SOD from break down by stomach
acids, a limitation of many other antioxidants, allowing it to be
assimilated by the intestinal cells and also promotes the delivery of the bioactive molecule in the small-intestine mucosa
(Patent FR 2 729 296, WO 96 21 462: EP 804 225, US 6 045 809 and JP 520 616).

The unique and beneficial properties of Super GliSODin® allow it to be
recommended in all situations where the natural protection system is
solicited against free radicals, leading to the weakening of the immune
system. Such situations are found among elderly people and also any person
subjected to external aggressions: winter, convalescence, stress, sun exposure and intense physical
exercise.

In a new study using a dramatic human model, where healthy volunteers are subjected to intense oxidative stress,
GliSODin®
was shown to protect against cellular DNA damage. These findings coincided with reduced blood isoprostane levels, another marker of oxidative stress. Interestingly,
GliSODin®
is the first to show this protective benefit in this model. Vitamin E, for example, did not pass this model.

The double-blind randomized study was performed at the University Hospital in Ulm, Germany. It used a hyperbaric model for oxidative stress on nuclear DNA in vivo. The SOD in GliSODin is co-processed with gliadin protein by a patented process. Gliadin has been shown to both protect the melon SOD and increase its effectiveness.

These findings support the body of evidence behind
GliSODin® benefits.

GliSODin®
ability to promote SOD, Catalase & Glutathione peroxidase, the powerful cellular antioxidants produced by our bodies, clearly make this a desirable dietary supplement, as well as a powerful addition to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory formulations.

After HBO exposure the tail moment (p=.03) and isoprostane levels (p=.049) were significantly lower in the group that received the vegetal formulation. Neither SOD and Cat nor GSH and GSSG were significantly affected by this preparation or HBO exposure. By contrast, blood GPx activity, which tended to be lower in the SOD group already before the HBO exposure (p=.076); was significantly lower afterwards (p=.045).

We conclude that an orally effective SOD–wheat Gliadin mixture is able to protect against DNA damage, which coincided with reduced blood isoprostane levels, and may therefore be used as an antioxidant."

Clinically Supported Applications

· Animal studies have demonstrated that oral administration of GliSODin® induced not only an increase in SOD activity (in plasma and erythrocytes) but also an increase of SOD, Catalase and Glutathione peroxidase in the liver! The entire system gains protection.

· One animal study shows that oral ingestion of GliSODin® results in increased levels of SOD for three weeks after usage ends!

· A double blind human study that showed the use of SOD significantly improved function and reduced pain in patients with active osteoarthritis of the knee. (Lund-Olsen K,
Menander-Huber. Intra-articular orgotein therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arzneimittelforschung 1983; 33(8):1199-1203.)

Oxygen is the most
important element for life. During its utilization by
the human body, oxygen gives birth to very reactive forms called “free
radicals”. Free radicals are destroyed by the natural defense systems
termed “antioxidants”.

The body’s antioxidant mechanisms can be classified into 2 groups:

• Dietary antioxidants (exogenous): certain foods are rich in
antioxidant substances like vitamins (Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin A
or its precursor beta-carotene), minerals (Selenium, Zinc, Copper and
Manganese) and other substances, including the polyphenols found in grapes
and green tea.

• Enzymatic
antioxidants made by the body (endogenous): the three main enzymes are
Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase and Glutathi-one Peroxidase.

Free radicals and/or chemical related compounds, when produced in excess, are responsible for cellular toxicity and contribute to the longterm development of most inflammatory-related diseases. In fact, the molecular and cellular activities of free radicals are highly dependent upon the threshold of production of these chemical entities.
Under "normal" conditions the potential excess production of free radicals is buffered by anti-oxidant enzymes and/or quenching molecules.

The disturbance of the delicate equilibrium between oxidant and anti-oxidant molecules is mainly initiated by pathogens (virus, bacteria etc.) and/or antigens (nutritional products, allergens, vaccine etc.) and is regulated positively or negatively by various immune reactions (2,3).

These observations led to the development of a large number of anti-oxidant products (nutrients and drugs). However, until now the development of these products has not been optimal for two main reasons. Previous products often had poor bioavailability, and the complexity of the dynamic equilibrium between free radicals and the related anti-oxidants has always been underestimated.

In the mid-1950s, the proposed ‘free radical theory of aging’ postulated that the accumulation of damage caused by free radicals was the underlying mechanism by which organisms age. Oxidative stress is the harmful condition that occurs when there is an excess of free radicals, a decrease in antioxidant levels, or both. Strategies aimed at limiting and repairing the damage attributed to oxidative stress may slow the advance of numerous age-related diseases. Today, there are many genes that have been identified in certain insects, which, when manipulated, lead to an increase in lifespan in insects. Of those tested, all provide an increased resistance to oxidative stress as a means of modifying lifespan. In addition, the lifespan can also be extended by the administration of synthetic superoxide dismutase (SOD) as it also appears to provide resistance to oxidative damage. An interesting study in insects demonstrated that when SOD-producing genes were inserted into cells of fruit flies it caused them to produce even more SOD, resulting in a 40% extension of life. In a human study, findings suggested that increased SOD activity in certain populations resulted in better protective mechanisms against aging effects. Research with
GliSODin® clearly demonstrates that it can protect the cell from genetic damage caused by oxidative stress while boosting total cellular defense – all critical in diminishing the aging effect in cells.
GliSODin® is the first vegetarian SOD that has been shown to be orally bioactive.*
Carl Germano, R.D., C.N.S., L.D.N.

Based on the antigenic nature of vegetal SOD, the GliSODin® complex induces adaptive systems of redox regulation and
immuno-modulation.

Quality of Life:
GliSODin® complex is being actively investigated to clarify the strong indications that it can help alleviate a wide range of symptoms linked to cellular inflammation. GliSODin® is also being studied to follow up on indications that its consumption may help slow the cellular aging process.

Individuality of Dose:
The dosing of GliSODin® depends on the clinical status of the subject. The base dose is the equivalent of 100 IU SOD per day and may be increases if necessary to 500 IU SOD per day. GliSODin® has a very low toxicity.

GliSODin versus usual anti-oxidant drugs:
As a dietary supplement, GliSODin® is unique in that it is a natural extract that can regulate production of anti-oxidant enzymes and molecules in the body. GliSODin® is a natural detoxifying enzyme that promotes natural defenses of the organism.

Benefits from using the GliSODin® product:
Chronic, infectious, inflammatory, degenerative and cancer tax the body energy stores and immune capacities. GliSODin® replenishes the energy needed to enhance the natural defense system and alleviate symptoms of cellular stress.
The daily pressures of life, noise and environmental pollution, and other stresses pose a cumulative harmful health threat that may contribute to the onset of disease. GliSODin® has been reported to reduce the effects of stress-induced free radical production.

Influence
Of An Orally Effective SOD
On Hyperbaric, Oxygen Related Cell Damage
Go to Top

Free Radical Research 38:9 (2004) pp. 927-932

Extreme exercise is another model for induced oxidative stress. Several markers of this stress are serum total antioxidant status and plasma lactic acid. In a compelling study, healthy volunteers supplemented their diets with 1500 mcg of GliSODin® for four weeks. Prior to GliSODin® use, the volunteers participated in strenuous exercise and baseline measurements of serum total antioxidant status, plasma lactate accumulation and several other markers were measured for each participant. After supplementation, the extreme exercise was repeated and the oxidative stress markers where measured once again. GliSODin® supplementation resulted in a significant change in oxidative status and a significant decrease in exercise-induced lactate release, suggesting the damage caused oxidative stress was significantly inhibited[3].

GliSODin® works by promoting our own, innate cellular protection. Our internal antioxidant defense system differs from “antioxidants” that are obtained from dietary sources.

The body’s antioxidant supply can be classified into two groups:

Dietary antioxidants, which are externally provided: certain foods are rich in antioxidant substances like vitamins (Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin A), minerals (Selenium, Zinc, Copper and Manganese) and other substances, including the polyphenols found in grapes and green tea. These external antioxidants contribute to the antioxidant reserve yet play a secondary role to the body’s own antioxidants

Enzymatic antioxidants, which are made by the body, thus internally provided: the internal antioxidant defense system includes Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase and Glutathione Peroxidase, which are the first, and most powerful, line of defense against oxidative stress.

Among these enzymes, SOD plays the primary role. SOD transforms the most reactive, and therefore the most dangerous, free radicals– the Super Oxide radicals – into ions that are less reactive; these less reactive ions are then transformed by the two other enzymes. This transformation is called dismutation, thus its name Super Oxide Dismutase. SOD also “signals” other cells to produce more SOD, thus preparing the antioxidant defense system against free radical attack.

This image illustrates the
electrostatic field (yellow) around an active site (red) of the enzyme
superoxide dismutase, which controls oxygen toxicity by converting the
superoxide radical to less dangerous forms. Michael Potter of Andrew
McCammon's group at the University of California, San Diego, studied the
influence of the electrostatic field on the reaction with superoxide using
Brownian Dynamics simulations and the UHBD software package on SDSC's CRAY
C90. The results were visualized with GRASP software, by A. Nicholls and B.
Honig of Columbia University, and resources in SDSC's VisLab.

The enzyme superoxide dismutase , or SOD (EC
1.15.1.1 catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. As such it is an important antioxidant defense in nearly all cells exposed to oxygen. One of the exceedingly rare exceptions is Lactobacillus plantarum and related lactobacilli.
A dismutation is a reaction in which a single substrate is alternately oxidized and reduced.

Several common forms of SOD exist: they are proteins cofactored with copper and zinc, or manganese, or iron.
The cytosols of virtually all eukaryotic cells contain an SOD enzyme with copper and zinc (Cu-Zn-SOD). (For example, Cu-Zn-SOD available commercially is normally that found in the bovine erythrocyte: The Cu-Zn enzyme is a homodimer of molecular weight 32,500. The two subunits are joined by a disulfide bond.
Chicken liver (and nearly all other) mitochondria, and many bacteria (such as E. coli) contain a form with manganese
(Mn-SOD). The Mn-SOD is found in a human mitochondrion. E. coli and many other bacteria also contain a form of the enzyme with iron (Fe-SOD); some bacteria contain Fe-SOD, others Mn-SOD, and some contain both.
The superoxide anion radical (O2-) spontaneously dismutes to O2 and H2O2 quite rapidly. However, SOD has the fastest turnover number (reaction rate with its substrate) of any known enzyme. In fact, its rate is diffusion-limited. Thus under real-world intracellular conditions SOD greatly reduces the ambient level of the dangerous superoxide radical.

The presence of SOD has been shown to help protect many types of cells from the free radical damage that is important in aging, senescence, and ischemic tissue damage. SOD also helps protect cells from DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, ionizing radiation damage, protein denaturation, and many other forms of progressive cell degradation.

Disclaimer: The data on this site is
provided for informational purposes only, and not meant to
"substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other
medical professional", nor is it intended for "the
diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease." We
must also advise that you should "not use the information contained
herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or
prescribing any medication," and "The FDA has not
evaluated any statements on this site." The information on
the web site has been obtained from the manufacturers of these products
or the components thereof, scientific research and sources considered
reputable in the specific area of discussion.